Yaphet Kotto was a

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...

band, named after the actor, from

Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz ( Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a po ...

active between 1996 and 2005. The band Yaphet Kotto formed after the demise of another band called Staple, of which Casey Watson and Mag Delana were members. Lyrically, the group dealt with social and political issues. They were also known for their chaotic and cathartic compositions which blended melody and extremity. The group released three full-length albums on

Ebullition Records Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid, which occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding atmosphere. Th ...

, and made several

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

s, and appearances on split-albums and compilations.

History

Yaphet Kotto was formed in

in 1996 by former members of a band called Staple, guitarist/vocalist Casey Watson and guitarist/vocalist Mag Delana. Bassist Pat Crowley, a childhood friend of Watson, joined shortly before drummer Scott Batiste. The band got their name from American actor

Yaphet Kotto Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born Frederick Samuel Kotto; November 15, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999) as ...

, with whom Delana was "fascinated with." An insert in their first release ''The Killer Was in the Government Blankets'' stated "Yaphet Kotto is part of no scene. Enjoy music for what it is/Not who it is." The band's lyrics dealt with various social and political issues such as the genocide of the Native Americans ("The Killer Was In The Government Blankets"), revolutionary inaction ("B and C"), the

War on Terror The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...

("Circumstantial Evidence"), American democracy ("Fact Nor Fiction"), and the legacy of segregation in America ("Reserved for Speaker"). Since the dissolution of Yaphet Kotto, former members have joined bands such as Saviours, Look Back and Laugh, Baader Brains, The Third Victim of Abigail Rutledge, Never Healed, The Old Firm Casuals and Middle-Aged Queers.

Discography

*''The Killer Was in the Government Blankets'' EP (1998, Analog Kid Records) *''The Killer Was in the Government Blankets'' LP (1999,

Ebullition Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid, which occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding atmosphere. Ther ...

) *"Critical Response"/"Collapse & Die" 7" (2000, Council) - split single with Suicide Nation *''Syncopated Synthetic Laments for Love'' (2001, Ebullition) *''Yaphet Kotto/This Machine Kills/Envy'' (2002, Sonzai) - split album with This Machine Kills and

Envy Envy is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's quality, skill, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another's good fortune, stirred b ...

*''Yaphet Kotto'' EP (2002, Council) *"European Tour" 12" (2003, Scene Police) *''We Bury Our Dead Alive'' (2004, Ebullition) *''Unreleased'' (2008, self-released)

Members

Last known lineup

* Mag Delana * Casey Watson * Austin Barber * Scott Batiste

Other known members

* Steve Roche * Chris Story * Paul Cameron * Pat Crowley * Keith Miller * Jose Palafox * Luke Clements

References

External Links

* {{Authority control Musical groups established in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 2005 Hardcore punk groups from California Emo musical groups American screamo musical groups